Ballarat is hosting this year's Victorian Closed State Titles, and it's fair to say that we Phoenix-people do half alright up there! On club day in November, we won something like six or seven classes! A couple of weeks ago the club hosted the last round of the country series, which served as a great shakedown for the title meeting.

In-form clubman light steerer Toby Pope showed everyone a very clean pair of heels to take victory at that meeting, so he'll be hoping to add a black plate to his kart, to go with the red one he won a few months ago. Also quick at that meeting were Fongy and Benny Beasley - both of whom have rectified some lingering seat issues (number one port of call for any Phoenix driver that is struggling! Replace your broken seat!!) so expect them to charge. Ash Quiddington managed 2nd place in JNH (and he's got a fresh new Stealth if I'm not mistaken, so look out!), and Peter Renga managed a 3rd in Rotax Heavy.

Of course, regular Phoenix poster-boy Liam Sager (who managed to podium the Tassie State Titles last month, well done bloke!) is ineligible to race a Victorian Closed Title, so we've decided it's time for his little protege Blake Graham to hit his straps. Young Blake has learned his lessons from Liam well (you can tell by the state of his nosecone), and having wrapped up the Ballarat Club Championships in the midgets class (requiring a victory at the last 3 rounds, which he achieved with style by winning the last FIFTEEN RACES of the year, great job mate!), Blake was unlucky to miss 3rd spot at the country series against competitors like State Champion Jake Klein. I reckon Blake's got a great future in karting, so I've got money on him this weekend.

Good luck everyone :)